Mysterious Ghost Ship Reappears After Almost A Decade Lost at Sea



Amidst the vast sea line, fishermen made a bizarre sighting. After almost 10 years at the mercy of the sea, a ship had mysteriously reappeared. Could the story behind the discovery be unraveled?

Long Lost Ships


History is full of strange tales from the expansive oceans. Legends and myths about ghost ships have long intrigued people. Large vessels seem to vanish without a trace. Crew members are never seen again and wreckages are never found. This is the case with the Myanmar Burmese ship. People wanted answers and so our story begins…



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The Ship


The Sam Ratulangi PB 1600 was a functional container ships for years. Making its maiden voyage in 2001, the huge vessel transported goods and cargo to far-flung destinations. But one destination would unexpectedly be its last. After eight years on the seas, the ship vanished and was not seen again for nearly a decade.

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The Sighting


The ship was first seen by a group of curious fishermen in the area of Yangon in Myanmar. The men were instantly intrigued by the vessel. It was worn, rusted and evidently years old. There was something especially unique about the mysterious vessel. The men decided to investigate.



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Calling Backup


The Myanmar Navy were soon called in to make a closer inspection of the Sam Ratulangi. The vessel was neglected and covered in rot. The Navy men found no trace of any crew on board. The ghost ship was entirely abandoned. But what had occurred all those years ago? Where were the crew now?

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The Last Destination


All vessels are legally required to log and track their journeys. Officials soon discovered that the last known journey of the ship was recorded eight years before the ship had been spotted aimlessly drifting the coast of Myanmar. It’s last destination appeared to be Taiwan. The Asian route had been traveled by vessels for years. So many questions remained. How had the strange befallen the abandoned ship?

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Discovering More


Officials began to slowly uncover the story of the lost ship. The vessel was believed to have experienced complications as it made its way down the Sittaung River. Infamously known for its fierce current and shallow waters, trade ships usually avoided the dangerous route. The large cargo ship had met its unfortunate fate along the 260-mile river. It is believed to have gotten stuck in the depths of the river bank’s mud.

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One of Many


The bizarre discovery of the ship may seem extraordinary but it is actually one of many vessels that turned up neglected in the seas. In 2017, a Japanese local discovered an abandoned ship washed up on the beach. In another dark discovery, it was uncovered that the vessel was littered with the decomposing bodies of the crew members.

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Another Mystery


In March 2018, another vessel was unexpectedly discovered by a mother and son who were strolling down a stretch of beach in Florida. The beach was strewn with rotting planks of wood. They soon realized they were standing amidst the wreckage of a long-lost ship. It was uncovered that the ship originally took to the seas in the 18th Century.

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Drifting to Shore


Florida has been the location for more strange discoveries. In September 2017, a boat drifted ashore and was spotted by curious locals. But this shipwreck was stranger than most. Someone had made some bizarre additions to the site. A mannequin had been placed before the ship with an ominous plaque reading: “The beatings will continue until morale improves.”

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Another Clue


As officials continued to investigate the case of the Sam Ratulangi, they soon uncovered another piece of the puzzle. A small tugboat had been drifting near the ghost ship. Perhaps this tugboat could help to unravel the ship’s mystery?

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The Search Begins


The tugboat was known as The Independence. Astonishingly, the Navy were able to track down the crew of the tugboat. The crew told their accounts of the encounter with the ghost ship. The tugboat had been pulling the vessel when a violent storm occurred. The two ships became separated and the Sam Ratulangi was severely damaged in the high winds and rough seas.

 
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The Death of Old Vessels


Ships can’t last forever. The average vessel has a life expectancy of 25-30 years. After time and use take its toll, ships are usually sold to ship breakers who break down and resell the vessel’s parts for high prices. It was soon planned that the ghost ship would be transported to Bangladesh to be broken down. But did it make the journey?

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A Harrowing Storm


But the ship would never make it to the shores of India. The vessel disappeared. The cargo vanished along with the ship’s crew. When the Independence did come across the drifting ship, the vessel was empty. Despite their intention, the tugboat’s crew could not withstand the vicious storm that separated the two vessels. And so, the ship was once again at the sea’s mercy.

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More Attempts


The Navy soon discovered that the Independence wasn’t the only boat to have attempted to rescue the abandoned ship from the treacherous waters. Another line was attached to the boat which appeared to indicate a second attempt. But it seems the ship’s fate was sealed. One burning question still remained: What happened to the ship’s crew?

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A Dark Theory


As officials continued to question the crew members of the Independence, a sinister thought soon occurred to the Navy men: Could the tugboat crew have something to do with the lost crew members? Had they survived or had the missing crew met a darker fate?

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A Hard Decision


The Navy soon decided that they would have to pull the 26,500 tonne ship out of the depths of the river. But two attempts had already been made, both of which had failed. The mission seemed mammoth and the prospect another storm plagued the Navy men. If the ship was left to rot away, it would eventually find its way to the ocean floor.

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Going Viral


Word of the discovered ghost ship soon spread. The Navy posted images of the ship to its Facebook and the story soon intrigued millions. People around the world were eager to discover the truth behind the mystery of the long l0st crew members.
 

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Within the Vessel


As the Myanmar Navy made their way into the ship’s bowels. Sadly, no further clues were uncovered. The engine seemed relatively undamaged. It seemed the ship’s mystery had been lost to the seas. But where is the ghost ship now?

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In Good Hands


The ship is under the watchful eye of the Myanmar Navy. Officials are still hoping that more information will come to light about the ship’s lost cargo and unknown crew members. Indeed, the ship is one of thousands. Wrecks are continually discovered that each have their own bizarre tales to tell. The sea is an uncontrollable force.

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Pieces of History


It is estimated that there are a staggering 3 million shipwrecks that litter the shores of the world’s vast oceans and sea floors. Wrecks have long intrigued marine biologists. These sites are unique and often reveal preserved historical details of the past centuries. While many see their historic value, others believe that some shipwrecks have dark and powerful stories behind them. Some believe elaborate urban legends of cursed ships and ghostly lingering crews…

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A Terrifying Tale


The world’s most notorious ghost ship is undeniably the Flying Dutchman. The spine-chilling legend of the ship dates back to the 1700s. Tales have long been told about sightings of the ship. Fisherman and sailors of the 19th and 20th Centuries reported spotting the rotting vessel drifting the ocean surface. Ghostly figures were seen on the boat. Many believed the sighting to be an ominous prediction of doom and disaster.
 

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North Korean Disaster


Abandoned ships have become a common occurrence in North Korea in recent years. In 2018, 110 ships were sunk or discovered on the country’s expansive coastlines. Superstitious locals believe the phenomenon is the result of evil supernatural forces. Many of the ships have been found to hold gruesome sights of decomposing corpses.

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Another Loss


These North Korean ships have also found their way to the shores of Japan. In January 2018, a small boat was washed up on the shore. The small boat had been crammed with bodies. Officials believed that the boat had been used to rescue a crew from a damaged ship during a particularly violent storm. Seven men had lost their lives in the ordeal. The decomposition of the corpses meant that their identities had forever been lost to time.

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A Grave Winter


The controversial and mysterious country of North Korea seems to be a harsh destination for the country’s local fishermen. Desperate North Korean fishermen are trying their luck in an attempt at securing their livelihood. Some have even gone as far as to flee the country to neighboring destinations. But the harsh North Korean winters often spell disaster for these desperate individuals. Many do not survive.

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Another Mystery


Another case that bewildered officials is the tale of Tamaya 1. This mammoth oil tanker stood at 210-feet long, and shocked locals when it washed ashore a remote beach in Liberia in 2016. The vessel was registered in Panama, many were in awe that the ship had found its way to a West African beach. What was more sinister was that no a single soul was sound onboard.

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The Investigation


Confused officials traced the last leg of the Tamaya’s journey. The ship had been sailing the winding coast of Gambia when it suddenly lost contact with those onshore. From there, little was discovered about the ship’s journey. Once again, the mystery remained. No one has yet to discover whether the crew lived to tell their tale.

 
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Neglected at Shore


The ship had been reported missing when it dropped off the radar but officials were surprisingly slow to respond to the call. It took three whole days before an investigation was launched. By that time the ship had been vandalized. Theories about the ship’s journey and abandonment soon started to swirl.

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The Reason?


Officials speculated over the strange disappearance and the reappearance of the ship. Many believed that the ship’s owner had suddenly lost money while the vessel was still at sea. He supposedly was unable to pay their crew. The angered men supposedly decided  to quite literally abandon ship. However, this was only one of the elaborate theories that made the rounds…

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The Dangerous Waters


While many believe that pirates are merely the stuff of ancient fantasy, that is not the case. Pirates are known to sail the surrounding seas of Africa. Driven by poverty and greed, men take to the seas to seek out vessels to hijack. These hijackings often turn violent. While Naval officials are determined to prevent such crimes, pirates are indeed a very real danger.

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A Mystery Forever


Perhaps the fate of the Tamaya had been at the hand of pirates? Like so many mysterious shipwrecks and ocean findings, it appears the case will forever remain unsolved. The oceans are a treacherous force that continue to exert their strength upon the human race.